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For days all we heard on the cable news was concern about the Ebola crisis. Then – suddenly nothing!

Why no news?

We Americans have such short attention spans and the news media seems to be able to only concentrate on one news item at a time. Whenever something shocking or dramatic happens, it is as if everything else in the world does not exist.

We are so self-absorbed!

The chart above is from data compiled by Google and it shows how interested our country was when several people here were infected with the virus. However, as the cases of Ebola in the USA were contained, we lost interest.

Ebola still is a crisis in West Africa!

The latest stats (and they change daily) I found was:

Liberia – 3,587 deaths

Sierra Leone – 3, 132 death

Guinea – 1,875 deaths

Along with the deaths, more than 20,000 have fallen ill with the disease. It is estimated that six out of ten who are currently ill with the disease will die and many still are not getting any medical care.

Entire society is changed by this crisis!

We think only of the tragedy of the deaths in this situation. However, even after the disease is brought under control, there will remain long-lasting effects for West Africa.

Children left as orphans when their parents died

Families who also lost mothers, fathers, grandparents

The economic blow brought to those communities as the bread-winner for the family has died

Children who have had to miss months of schooling because schools were closed

Businesses who have lost income they will never regain because their business was closed, or even if still open, few customers came

Oh well – it doesn’t affect me!

Strange how churches were praying about the crisis when it looked like the virus might threaten the USA. But, now I do not hear any prayers being given for the crisis. It doesn’t affect us – so we are back to praying about things that concern us.

Situation in USA

Granted, I am concerned about Ebola becoming a serious issue for our country. I have no idea which side of the fence I should be on in this argument about banning travel and putting quarantines in place. I’ll leave that issue for those more qualified than I am.

However, to describe our country’s situation as a crisis and focus so much attention on us seems a little self-centered to me.

Situation in Sierra Leone and other Western African countries

In Sierra Leone Ebola is not just a health crisis – Ebola is a humanitarian disasterof serious proportions. Here are some of the ripple effects that are impacting the country.

Food prices are up 25%.

47% of farmers have had significant disruption to their farming process and yields.

75% of those affected by Ebola are farmers.

Quarantines and blockades have prevented access to farms.

Agricultural investors have left the country, along with many other business investors.

Many people are down to only 1 meal a day.

Markets have been closed, so buying food becoming a challenge.

Schools have been cancelled.

The UN is predicting that up to 750,000 people will die of malnutrition and starvation in the next few months.

While we should be concerned about our country, let’s not forget to pray – and to give – to help those countries where there really IS a crisis!